Sport24.co.za | Historic Kolisi moment wins Laureus award

London – Springbok captain Siya Kolisi historic first Test in charge of South Africa has been selected as the July Laureus Sporting Moments of the Month, after a vote by thousands of sports fans around the world.

Kolisi‘s inspirational rise from a childhood in the Zwide Township in Port Elizabeth to became the first black captain of a Springbok side was lauded as one of the most significant moments in South African rugby history.

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Leading the team against England at Ellis Park, Johannesburg in June, Kolisi wore the iconic No 6 jersey, the same number worn by President Nelson Mandela – the first Patron of Laureus – at the 1995 Rugby World Cup final.

The Boks would go on to win the series against England, 2-1.

Each month, from March to December, the public can select their favourite moment from a shortlist of four videos, chosen by the sporting legends of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

Monthly winners will then go head-to-head in a final public vote, with the winner being announced at the 2019 Laureus Awards Ceremony.

AUGUST NOMINEES:

COUTINHO‘S GIFT – The Brazil star saw a photo of 12-year-old Wallace Rocha from a Rio favela wearing a makeshift shirt with his name on it. He interrupted his training to send Wallace a video message, then sent him an autographed jersey to wear during the FIFA World Cup.

THE CITIZEN RUNNER – Yuki Kawauchi, 31, won this year’s Boston Marathon despite having to work 40 hours a week in the administrative office of a high school. He has no sponsors and his amateur status has made him a sporting sensation in Japan.

WORLD CUP REQUIEM – Having planned to go to Russia as a family, Mexico fan Gilberto Martinez lost his wife and two young children in a car crash, but he still went to fulfil the family dream. After Mexico’s 1-0 win over Germany, Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa wrote on social media: “This was for your family.”